Finished rewatching the first season of Spice and Wolf and thought occurred to me. I’ve mentioned this show time and again, but I cannot recall if I ever explained why I enjoyed it or why others should watch it. Let me remedy this. To give a brief explanation of the series, the show follows a Traveling Merchant by the name of Kraft Lawrence (who manages to have silver hair while being in his mid to late twenties. I’m guessing either stress, or this being an anime. Probably stress) is in this one town that’s having its annual Harvest Festival. Due to various circumstances (like having Wheat in the back of his cart) Lawrence ends up meeting the Wolf Godess/Deity/Spirit(?) that the Festival is about named Holo. Due to various agricultural advances and other such things Holo has felt unneeded or unwanted and so makes a deal with Lawrence to help her get back to her homeland in the far north. There’s other stuff but that’s the gist. Traveling Merchant dude helping a Wolf goddess get back home and along the way he just goes about his business doing Merchant stuff. And I should note, this is a romance and the two fall for each other along the way. Now there’s like four to five reasons I’d highly recommend this series. First thing that comes to mind is that the sound track is one of the best I’ve heard. Second, the chemistry between the two main leads is great. Joking, teasing, playful, quite cute at times. Just all around quite solid. With wonderful performances by J. Michael Tatum and Brina Palencia (by the way I insist you watch the Dub over sub since the voices just fit a bit better imho). Other characters....well none are really mainstays...but overall everyone else is fairly good. Third reason is, surprisingly, the economics. Now it’s a common joke that people will have pictures of Holo with text saying ‘I watch it for the economics’, but that is legitimately a reason to watch it. With Lawrence’s job and livelihood based around stuff like Silver purity in coins or what’s worth what and various other things the show explains all the stuff in a way that makes it seem legitimately interesting. It’s not going make you switch to being a Business major or some such, but it is legitimately an interesting and intriguing aspect of the show. One main draw of it that a friend of mine noted was that it was just focused on a regular Merchant dude instead of some heroic hacking and slashing hero type. A refreshing anime occupation. Another reason is that I’ve found this show to be enjoyed by those who generally dislike anime. My late Grandpa and a good college friend of mine were both notable against anime. Or at the very least against certain aspects of anime (drastic changes in animation for comedic effect being something they both disliked). After some badgering from me ( In one case badgering two of my college pals to watch the show with me when they had the time and if they still had the interest) they went about watching it..and legitimately enjoyed it. So it’s a good starter anime I suppose? I recall another friend who was quite cross with me the day after I recommended it since he apparently felt compelled to binge the whole series (or at least the whole first season). I should note that the Church is obviously somewhat of an antagonistic Force. Mind you it’s not like there’s Church officials hunting after the two, just that it’s a threat in the risk of what Holo being discovered might mean. There’s also a corrupted church official here and there but mainly in the background. But most antagonists are relating to Lawrence’s Merchant Stuff. I should note it’s two seasons, each twelve or thirteen episodes long. Annoyingly the second season just sorta stops. The show being based on a series of light novels (of which there are 17 that’s ‘complete’ three after the end, and now there’s a sequel series of books with three out right now) with the anime only adapting the four (If I recall correctly) or so of the first five books. That being said I’ve actually picked up the books from where the show left off, and they’re also quite good. As to how you’d go about watching it..I watched the first few dubbed episodes on Funimation’s YouTube channel (the free ones) and then got the rest on Amazon video. Also, you might want to watch at least the first two to three episodes. Make of this what you will. Al, the Chronographing Cottager and Prince of Naming
